We have now come to the breaking out of the possibility, the preparation of which has been treated in its various aspects. Being filled with the Holy Spirit Evan Roberts returned home. All the conditions of the breaking out of the possibility of the Revivalist, which was in his soul, have now been fulfilled, and, consequently, it burst forth in full power. On Monday morning, October 31st, 1904, he starts to meet the 10. 45 train from Newcastle-Emlyn for Loughor to work for a week amongst the young people of Moriah. He now leaves the school, which was the only way to College, and well knows that losing a week will be of great disadvantage to him. What can be the state of his mind when starting? Rather confused undoubtedly but he assures us that he had not the least anxiety about the future. Yet, after the marvellous experience of the previous day, it must have been in a wonderful state. To stay and describe this would be to attempt that which is impossible for a finite being. When starting for the station, who would think that he was going to initiate a movement to set Wales on fire in a spiritual sense in less than a month. Only the One who knows all things, and who led him home.

I. THE FIRST TWO LETTERS OF EVAN ROBERTS AS A REVIVALIST.

The last thing he did before starting for the train was writing the letter that follows to Miss. Florrie Evans, of New Quay, who was full of the Revival spirit. The letter requires no comments, for it speaks for itself.

Ty Llwyd,
Ebenezer Street,
Newcastle-Emlyn,

Monday Morning

Dear Florrie,

A word in haste. I am going home this morning to work among our young people for a week. The reason for that is — that the Spirit wants me to go. I was in the six o’clock service, Sunday, and the Spirit brought the case of our young people before me so powerfully, that it was impossible for me to keep my mind from it. It was so for half-an-hour. I had to pray three times for quietness. From then until the end the place had been filled with the Divine Presence, and at times I would lose the minister, seeing only his form, and after having returned from the meeting, I told Mr. Phillips that I failed to have quietness in Chapel, and I asked whether it was the Spirit or the devil that was working. Mr. Phillips said unhesitatingly — O, the Holy Spirit was working, and it will be beneficial for you and them (the young people of Loughor) to be together for a week. Consequently, I am going this morning by the 10. 45., and I beg of you in the name of our Lord Jesus, to remember us especially at Moriah, Loughor. Services will be held every night for a week. Ask all the young people to remember us — And O! I should be glad if you could have a meeting to pray on our behalf, for the Lord Jesus sake — our dear Lord Jesus (the tears run now when mentioning His name). The Spirit has given me an earnest of a blessed future amongst our young people at Moriah. And O! what two meetings we had yesterday — one in the vestry and the other in Mr. Phillips’s house. We have not had anything like them. I have been asking God whether it would be better for some of you to come to Loughor with me, but He did not answer in the affirmative. Evans stays here being that some things are not as we should like.

I should be glad to have a word from you per return of post.

Yours in Christ,

E.J.R.

Miss. Florrie Evans.

P.S. Thanks to Heaven. For remembering us with such heavy blessings. — Onward, Fire Divine!

As soon as he sat in the train, he began his revival work in writing the letter inserted below to Miss. N. Ceredig Evans, Cardigan, a most devotional and pious young lady. Taking into consideration the circumstances in which this letter was composed, it cannot but arouse much interest. As the one above, it is full of spirituality of the sanest kind.

Newcastle-Emlyn,

Monday morning, Oct 31st, 1904

DEAR MISS. EVANS, —

Just a line to let you know that I am on my hay home for a week to work with our young people.

The reason for this is the command of the Holy Spirit. He gave the command last night at the meeting. I could not concentrate my thoughts on the work of the service. I prayed and played, so that I could follow the service, but of no avail. My thoughts were wandering, and my mind riveted on our young folk at Moriah. There seemed a voice, as if it said, You must go, you must go! I then told Mr. Phillips about it, and I asked whether it was the devil or the Spirit. He answered, No, no. The devil does not give such thoughts. It was the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, I have decided to obey, and I feel as if the Spirit testifies of a blessed future.

And the main object of this note is to ask you and your friends to pray for us. I ask you, in the name of the Saviour, to be bold at the throne of grace, and oh! endeavour to impress this indelibly on the mind of your friends — the importance of prayer, and especially on this occasion.

I have written to New Quay, and have asked them to do the same. Oh! what a blessed band going boldly to the throne of grace.

I play God that He will ere long pour His Spirit abundantly upon your young people.

I should like to have a word if possible from you this week. We had some awful meetings yesterday at Bethel, and a blessed meeting last night at Mr. Phillips’s house.

Please excuse the lead and writing. This has been written while the train was in motion from Newcastle-Emlyn to Pencader.

Yours in the Lord,

EVAN ROBERTS.

Miss. N. Evans

II. HIS FIRST REVIVAL SERMON

This sermon is of great interest. It was thought by him in the train, on his way from Newcastle-Emlyn in Carmarthen. When it came to his mind, he determined to deliver it, and did so on reaching Carmarthen Station. As to length, it is something like Jonah’s sermon to the Ninevites. But if short, it is serious and full of meaning. It will be transmitted down to the ages as one involving the first words of Evan Roberts in the character of a Revivalist. He travelled between the above places with a compartment full of people, and tested himself whether he was ready to speak far Jesus to them. The test was hard, but he came out of it victoriously. Having become ready to speak, he asked God for a message and when to deliver it. How exact and careful he was about being divinely led in all his movements! When Carmarthen was reached, he got up to go out, being he had to change trains. On his way out, he delivered the sermon, and these were the words. Perhaps we shall not meet again, until we meet in the judgement. What was the effect? The indirect effect cannot be known, but the direct effect on the company varied as is always the case. Some thought seriously on the words, others smiled, and a number looked as if surprised at the preacher, but no one despised his words. The message contains one of the chief points in Evan Roberts’s ministry. To appear in the Day of Judgement is one of the great ideas in his addresses, notwithstanding that the infinite love of Christ is his predominant theme. After he delivered the message a wave of happiness filled his soul, and he felt his heart heaving as it were within him. He attributes this to the fact that he had conquered all his inclinations which hindered him to speak. Firmly did he believe that it was his duty to speak to these people, and that he could not be loyal to Christ without that. The deliverance of the message proves that he had gained sufficient moral courage to put his belief into action.

III. EVAN ROBERTS ON THE BATTLE-FIELD

Behold him alighting on Loughor platform, the place which is to be revolutionised, morally and spiritually, in less than a fortnight. He is determined to attack the enemy in his native home. In one respect, it is the most difficult place he could find. The fact that he was born and brought up here is not an advantage. All the people of the vicinity were familiar with him, and the rule is that a prophet is not honoured in his own home. Well he knew this rule, as well as two other obstacles, namely, the prejudice of one class, and the idea which dominated others that his mind was impaired. Nevertheless, it is fair to say that a number of the Loughor people encouraged him, and he states that the Rev. Daniel Jones, his minister, offered to help him to the best of his abilities. It is not surprising that he met with a measure of difficulty from some. What strikes us, is that it was so small, and his procedure being so exceptional. Think of a young man infringing on all the rules and methods of carrying on religious services! Who could believe in him at once. Did not the people disbelieve the Christ of God? Can the disciple expect to be accepted better than his Master. And to the praise of Evan Roberts, he does not complain of the little opposition he met, but he rejoices to think that many of the people were so willing to help and co-operate with him. The divine fire burned in his heart, and his determination was so stable, that small obstacles had no discouraging effect on his carrying out his plans. The hour of the bursting forth of his latent revival possibility and the hour of God had come, and, consequently, he could not be stopped in his career. God had determined to do wonders in Wales through our hero, and woe to everyone who would attempt to stand in the way. Who can stand in the way of a man linked to the Creator? All must turn one side now for Evan Robert is to proceed, for the forces of heaven are set free, as well as his revival potentialities. This day I can hear the voice of the Almighty above Loughor saying: This is the man that God chooses to honour. When God says this, all human antagonistic powers are as naught.

IV. THE CHANGE IN HIM.

Evan Roberts reaches Island House to the surprise of the family. Their astonishment increased when he made known his intention in coming home. His mother met him at the door, and after he entered, she asked him, Where have you been? Have you been preaching some-where? No, he said. Are you ill? queried his mother again. I am not, was the answer. Well what is the matter? she asked the third time. Oh nothing, he replied, only that I am coming home to work amongst the young people here for a week. Having sat in the comer, he laughed in a very strange manner, and said that there was to be a blessed time at Loughor before the end of the week. We can very well realise that his mother was much struck by his unusual conduct. Shortly, he began to speak about going through Wales to offer Christ to sinners. Well, remarked his mother, if you will do that, you will have no money to go back to school, because you will spend it all. Oh, replied he, my Heavenly Father has plenty. When his brother, Dan, and his sisters, Sarah and Mary, came in, their attention was drawn like their mother to his strangeness. His talk was so different from usual, that they could not understand what had possessed him. How are you, Dan? he asked his brother. Not very well. My eyes are very weak, and I cannot see but little, was the answer. Come you, said Evan, your eyes will recover alright suddenly. The Lord needs you. From that time on Dan’s eyes got stronger, and now he feels nothing from the weakness that afflicted them. Having looked at Dan’s eyes, he sat before the organ, and began to play, but suddenly he burst into tears. Then, he remarked, Dan, you shall see there will be a great change at Loughor in less than a fortnight. We are going to have the greatest Revival that Wales has ever seen. When at the table, he began to speak in the same strain, and said, We must believe God at His word. His promises we have, and why do we not believe him? There will be wonderful things here before the end of the week. Before Dan and Mary had seen him, he had been in the Rev. Daniel Jones house, and had given utterances to the same things there. This afternoon he met one of his greatest friends, and asked him, Are you saved? I am afraid not, was the answer. Well, said he, you must make this right before the end of the week. The family could not realise there was anything in the exceptional things he expressed, and thought it better not to take any notice of him. Yet they could not but feel anxious lest his mind was deranged.

After having made known his object and intention in coming home, as well as predicting things that were to take place, he asked Dan if he would come to the meeting that night. Dan excused himself, and brought the condition of his eyes as a reason for that. Owing to the strange conduct of his brother, Dan could not think of going to the meeting. This was the true cause of his refusal. Notwithstanding that his eyes were weak, that was not a sufficient reason, for Evan could lead him. He did not attempt to persuade Dan any further, but asked his sister, Mary, to come. I am not coming, said Mary, because I must do my lessons. Well, he remarked, you will lose the blessing if you will not come. When relating this to me, Mary said, I did not know what in the world he had when speaking about blessing, and being filled with the Holy Spirit and such things. What did I know about these things? Dan and Mary refused. For the very same reason, namely, fearing that his mind had been impaired, because they had never heard him giving expression to such things before. The family felt something like the mother and brothers of Jesus when they went in search of Him. Although they were in great anxiety, four of them went to the meeting — his mother, Sarah, and Mary, his sisters, and Dan. However, Dan and Mary did not go to the first meeting held at seven o’clock, but to the one arranged by Evan to the young people at eight o’clock.

Another great change was noticeable in Evan Roberts today. He always used to be timid, shy, and nervous in religious circles, and sometimes gloomy before he was filled with the Holy Spirit at Blaenanerch. But all these characteristics have now disappeared. Some divine boldness and courage penetrate through all his movements. He speaks cheerfully, and some spiritual happiness is visible in every expression of his face. His appearance is that of one hoping to see great things coming about soon. He feels as one having all the certainty of eternity on his side. Anxiety about the future does not enter his mind. To-day he has linked the success of the future to the infinite power of the God-head. Some of the keenest people were astonished at this change. What to say of it, they knew not. The wisest and most godly people could not see that it resulted from pride nor want of mental balance. His naturalness was too much for it to be the product of these. The people, like his family, were greatly astonished, when he disclosed the reason of his coming home, his intentions, plans, hopes, and certainty of success. To some, these things seemed as unruly selfishness and selfishness was not known in his conduct before he went to School. Before the day was over, he under-stood that only a few believed in his plans and predictions, yet it was impossible to discourage him. Certain he was that God was near him every moment, and directing all his movements. Whatever the people then thought and believed, they had but few days before being convinced that Evan Roberts had been led home by God. He also continued to believe that firmly. Notwithstanding his strong faith, this of necessity was a wonderful day in his history.